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Marble portrait of the emperor Augustus

ca. 14–37 CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 166
When Octavian took the title of Augustus in 27 B.C., an official portrait was created that embodied the qualities he wished to project, and hundreds of versions of it were disseminated throughout the Empire. The features are individualized, but the overall effect is of calm, elevated dignity and brings to mind Classical Greek art of the fifth century B.C. With this studied understatement, the portraits could evoke the values of the glorious past of Athens and at the same time present the emperor simply as primus inter pares, first among equals.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Marble portrait of the emperor Augustus
  • Period: Early Imperial, Julio-Claudian
  • Date: ca. 14–37 CE
  • Culture: Roman
  • Medium: Marble
  • Dimensions: 11in. (27.9cm)
  • Classification: Stone Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908
  • Object Number: 08.258.47
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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